THE STATE OF THE ART - Rare Fine Association Copy of The First Hardcover Edition/First Printing: Signed, Placed, Dated (Before Publication), And Inscribed by Arthur C. Danto - ONLY SIGNED COPY ONLINE

1st Printing. Signed. 230 pages. Published in 1987. Retrospective collection of essays. One of the greatest - and under-appreciated - books on art and culture in our time. Advance Signed Copy. The First Hardcover Edition. Precedes and should not be confused with all other subsequent editions. Published in a small and limited first print run as a hardcover original only. The First Edition is now scarce. Presents Arthur C. Danto's "The State of The Art". The ground-breaking, inaugural collection from possibly the single most important art critic in America of our time. All of the themes that the prolific Danto has explored and written about since then, over the course of a long and brilliant career, are laid out in this book. "An art critic who weaves Nietzsche and Hegel into criticism is rare, but Danto turns out philosophically informed criticism with pungency and bite. Reminds us that most 20th-century art has been revolutionary or religious, viewed by its makers as a means of spiritual transformation. Skewers the fashionable and chic with critiques of Julian Schnabel, Jonathan Borofsky, and others. His send-ups are all the more devastating for being good-natured and philosophically anchored. Danto is equally interesting whether he is re-assessing famous masters (Chagall, Van Gogh, Durer) or unraveling contemporaries whom he admires (Robert Motherwell, Leon Golub) " (Publishers Weekly). Erudition, eclectic taste, and keen intellect are the hallmarks of Arthur C. Danto's writing, and they are deployed here, in full, magnetic force. An absolute "must-have" title for Arthur C. Danto collectors. This Advance Copy is very prominently, neatly, and beautifully signed, placed, dated (before publication), and inscribed in black ink-pen on the front free endpaper by the author: "New York, 4 Feb 1987, For Ben & Dorothy, In friendship, affection, gratitude, and pleasure, Arthur C. Danto". It is signed directly on the page itself, not on a tipped-in page. The couple-recipients, who are named, were very close friends of the author and among few recipients of the Advance Copy. This title is a great book. As far as we know, this is the only such signed, placed, and pre-publication dated copy of the First Hardcover Edition/First Printing available online and is in especially fine condition: Clean, crisp, and bright. Please note: Copies available online have serious flaws, are subsequent printings, or are remainder-marked. This is surely an accessible and lovely alternative. A rare signed copy thus. One of the most important philosopher/critics of our time. A fine copy. (SEE ALSO OTHER ARTHUR C. DANTO TITLES IN OUR CATALOG) ISBN 0137708688.…